​How to Afford IVF and Surrogacy

People who are told they should pursue IVF and surrogacy often believe their dream of becoming parents is out of reach due to high costs advertised when searching terms such as “In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)” or “surrogacy” online. A simple online search of “How much does surrogacy cost in the U.S.?” yields estimates of upwards of $100,000-150,000, making parenthood seem out of reach to most people.

It’s a tragedy that most that people are faced​with “Financial Infertility” on top of Medical Infertility.

​​Personally, even though my husband and I had no health insurance coverage for IVF or surrogacy, we were able to keep the cost of our own surrogacy journey to under $25,000! During our journey, we compiled an extensive list of ways we were able to afford IVF and surrogacy, and we are now sharing it all with you!

With this site we are hoping to provide you with some money-saving alternatives, and to show the average family that it is possible to afford IVF and surrogacy, with a little planning and a lot of determination.

While we can’t guarantee your journey will follow the same path that ours did, we do believe you will be able to save a substantial amount of money (on a “typical” surrogacy journey) if you follow our tips listed on this site.

How to use this guide

There are sections for raising funds, affording IVF treatment, surrogacy specific items and also how to avoid losing money in the process.

While we don’t address donor eggs/sperms specifically, you can apply many of the same tips to that process.

This guide can applicable to any family dynamics, although it is written from our point of view as a heteronormative married couple in the U.S.

For purposes of this guide we focus on Gestational Surrogacy. Please note that while we use the terms “surrogacy” and “surrogate” broadly throughout, there is a difference between using a Gestational Carrier and using a Traditional Surrogate. A gestational carrier (gestational surrogate / host surrogate) is a woman who carries a child conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) using the egg (ovum) of the intended parent or an egg donor, and the sperm of the intended parent or sperm donor. A traditional surrogate is a woman who carries a child using her own egg and is the genetic and biological mother of the child. With traditional surrogacy, pregnancy is usually achieved using intrauterine insemination.

You may not be able to follow every tip, as you may see some contradict each other. Each tip is just an option or idea to get you thinking creatively. Some may not apply in your situation or may not be worth the cost savings to you personally. Or you may come up with your own ways to afford IVF and surrogacy.

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Disclaimers: ​None of the money saving tips that we personally used caused any issues or difficulties in our journey. They had no negative impact on our outcome or experience. We were lucky to have an AMAZING surrogacy journey. Zero drama, heartache, stress, or delays. We know that's not the case for everyone, but we are proof that you can have an AFFORDABLE and enjoyable surrogacy journey.​ All data and information provided in this e-book is for informational purposes only. The information presented is not legal advice, is not to be acted on as such. No information contained in this book should be construed as legal advice from Affording Surrogacy or the individual author, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this book should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information included in, or accessible through, this book without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.While we try to keep the information up-to-date and correct, there are no representations or warranties, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in this e-book for any purpose. Any use of this the tips and tools described within this book are from the author’s personal thoughts. They are not intended to be a definitive set of instructions to save money. You may discover there are other methods and materials to accomplish the same end result, or that one or more of these tips may not save you money given your circumstances.Some links within this book may lead to other websites, including those operated and maintained by third parties. Affording Surrogacy includes these links solely as a convenience to you, and the presence of such a link does not imply a responsibility for the linked site or an endorsement of the linked site, its operator, or its contents. This e-book contains affiliate links, which means we receive compensation if you make a purchase using these links. Thank you!

"It's great! I love the little tidbits on your journey. It was super easy to read and informative... would be super helpful to anyone starting the journey of surrogacy." - Renee

"This site is full of good substance and good quality information than anyone considering IVF/Surrogacy should read. Much of the information was brand new to me, and some of the information was also a nice review of what my husband and I already had been implementing, which reiterated that we were on the right path. Chrissy has done a lot of research, and it shows in the material. I love the way that she explains how her and her husband implemented some of the techniques mentioned in this book - it puts a special personalized touch on something that can be so daunting and intimidating. There are many resources that I was unaware of, and after a three-month hiatus of looking at anything IVF/Surrogacy related, Chrissy got me excited to research again and get back into our journey. I highly recommend this book to everyone." - Sheryl